BIO-Pen Pictures,page 242-243
Samuel R. Johnson
of the Hamilton District
SURNAMES: McKinley, Lynch, Spratlen, Reed, Berger
Among the beautiful and productive orchards in the Hamilton
District, San Jose Township, that owned by Mr. Johnson is worthy of
special mention. This orchard is located on Moorpark Avenue, or Gruwell
road, about three miles southwest of the business center of San Jose.
It is fifty-one acres in extent, all under a high state of cultivation,
and devoted to orchard purposes, which is classed as follows: Nineteen
acres of apricots, twelve acres of French prunes, eight acres of
apples, four acres of egg plums, five acres of cherries, one and
one-half acres of pears, and three-fourths of an acre in almonds. There
are also a few vines of choice table grapes, and a select family
orchard containing nearly all varieties of fruit grown in the county.
Mr. Johnson is also the owner of a magnificent tract of 360 acres in
extent in the Meridian School District, on the Doyle road, three and
one-half miles southwest of his orchard property. Sixty acres of this
land are planted with vines, producing wine grapes of the Zinfandel,
Grenache, and Charbano varieties; also three acres of table grapes of
the Black Hamburg and Muscat varieties. There is an extensive orchard
upon this place, comprising seventy-five acres of French prunes and
twenty acres of cherries. The rest of the land is devoted to hay and
grain.
The subject of this sketch was born in Parke County, Indiana, November
1, 1830. His father, Isaac Johnson, was a native of Pennsylvania, and
his mother, Mary (McKinley) Johnson, was born in Indiana. his early
life was spent on a farm, and his education confined to the common
schools. He continued his farm labor until 1853, when he came overland
to California, and located in Solano County. He rented land in that
county, and for two years engaged in raising grain. In 1855 he returned
East and located in Sydney, Fremont County, Iowa, where he was engaged
in a general merchandise business until 1857. He then moved to Cass
County, Nebraska, where he continued his mercantile pursuits until
1866. In that year he located at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and was engaged
in the wholesale grocery business for eight years. In 1874 he moved to
Omaha, Nebraska, and there conducted an extensive wholesale grocery
business until 1885, when he sold out and retired from mercantile
pursuits. For thirty years Mr. Johnson was actively engaged in
mercantile life, during which time, by his energy and sound business
principles, he accumulated a competency. He was identified and
associated with many public enterprises, investing his capital therein,
among which was the cable road system in Omah. He is now (1888) the
President of the Omaha Cable Tramway Company. Mr. Johnson has visited
California many times during his business life, and fully appreciates
its advantages in climate, soil, etc. In 1886 he purchased his orchard
property on Moorpark Avenue, and in 1887 purchased 360 acres on the
Doyle road. his business interests are such in Omaha that as yet he has
been unable to reside permanently in this county, though his family and
himself spend a large portion of each year at his residence on Moorpark
Avenue. It is his intention in the near future to take up his permanent
residence in Santa Clara County.
In 1856 Mr. Johnson married Miss Martha Spratlen, the daughter of James
and Sarah H. (Lynch) Spratlen, natives of Virginia, but now residents
of Fremont County, Iowa. Mrs. Johnson died in 1870, leaving four
children, viz: Franklin B., who married Miss Marian Reed; Hattie L.,
who married Ed. B.Williams; William, and Nettie; all the above reside
in Omaha. In 1873 he married Miss Fannie M. Berger, daughter of Enos
and Elizabeth Berger, natives of Virginia, now residents of Santa Clara
County. From this marriage there are two sons, Samuel Edgar and Ralph
Raymond, who are residing with their parents.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S.
Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888. page 242-243 Transcribed by Carol Lackey
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY